One of the major life issues that I have had to deal with is trying to understand why God allows things to happen. I know that I am not the only one who has dealt with this question, so that’s why I feel comfortable talking about it with everyone. This devotional has two parts, and it includes perspective on people and events that happen to interfere with our lives.
The one, which is negative events, is a probably one of the more common issues that I have dealt with since I have committed myself to ministry. Mind you, I have not had much church ministry experience, but I have done a lot out in the field so to speak. So when people ask me “why did your God, who is supposed to be loving, allow this to happen?” The truth is, that often times we do not have sure answer all the time. But what I have been able to do is talk about my own life and talk about how this happens in the Bible.
In my own life, I have asked similar questions. Growing up with my situation was not easy for me, I had a hard time articulating thoughts, communicating, and I was not the smartest student. Because of that, I was discouraged from public speaking, discouraged from having high goals, and discouraged from anything that could expose my weakness instead of embracing it. Christians told me that I lack faith and that God should heal me and wants to heal me. Then one day it hit me, what if God is allowing this to happen because it glorifies him? To think that I have made it this far with my condition is a testament to God’s grace and my hard work. It proves that anyone can do what I have done with God’s grace and hard work. So in the big picture, the gains of me being who I am outweigh the cost, and until he is willing to take it from me, I will remain patient.
Another question that I often had was why it was so hard for me to get around in the church. I have had a horrible time trying to find a church the first 9 years of my walk, and have been accused of so much. Those that know me know the threats and accusations, but I don’t want to bog us down. The thrust is that if I did not experience persecution from the hands of Christians, I would probably have a much weaker resolve when it comes to being a leader. Now that I can see this, I have a much stronger sense of urgency when it comes to my faith.
Read 2 Corinthians 11:21-30
To give a quick reference to context, Paul is writing the Corinthians about true apostleship. There had been false leaders entering the church, and they were viewed as “super-apostles” and were leading Christians astray. Their speech and charisma attracted the masses, and began questioning the validity of Paul since he did not focus moving speech speech. They actually taught that they should be paid based on their performance when teaching. So instead of giving in to the extravagant life style and performances that the false teachers were portraying, Paul taught about the suffering he endured for being a true apostle. Which to him, was worth bragging about.
As I look at what Paul had to endure in 2 Cor 11:21-30, I blush at the thought that I might have been persecuted. My list, though it is a lot to some, does not stack up well against Paul’s. But the way it works is that if we try to live a life for Christ, we will receive opposition. Paul was being stretched in ways that most of us cannot understand, but it was also a testament to God needing him since he survived all of those hardships. So when you go through trouble, I would encourage you to look at it as “how is God forming me or what is God teaching me by allowing this to happen?” Keep an eye on the big picture.
The second part is dealing with people who oppose you.
One day I was reading in the book of 1 Samuel, and I tripped over the story of David and Goliath. Something registered, and I looked at Goliath and the Philistines in a new light. You begin to wonder what these well-trained men were doing threatening and tormenting the Israelites, who from what I understand, weren’t even well equipped. So Goliath strolled around bullying them for days, but never attacking them. David comes onto the scene, remembering how he had slain lions and bears, and claiming that Goliath is no different. The rest is all history, but I want to focus on the different groups in 1 Sam 17. You have Saul, who is armed and well built to be a warrior, and he is busy posting rewards for anyone who goes and fights Goliath! If you are one of his country men, what do you think of this? Then you find David, who wants to do God’s will and is out to fight. He goes in confidently and is mocked by the Israelites and his family for his willingness. He fights Goliath, who is extremely over confident and very condescending. Some studies I have read have mentioned that due to some of his comments, he might have had a hint of jealous due to the comments about being ruddy and handsome and despising him (v 42). Kind of makes you wonder about Goliath. After he is slain, what do the Philistines do? They run off! They are fully armed, trained and ready to destroy this peasant army, and they run off. Not so tough, eh?
So this illustration just shows you a little bit about what people are really like. I have had a lot of people attack me in my life, and it is always strange to me. I am one of those people who is happy when everything is smooth. So it always confused me that people just hated me for no reason at all. Then one day, this idea popped in my head. I started looking at the people in my life who disliked me, and I was suddenly having pity for them. Whether they were coworkers, former friends/girlfriends, I started seeing them for who they are. Like instead of seeing my boss as a perfectionist tyrant like everyone else did, I saw a weak man who thrived on picking on the low men, who feared failure and rejection and spent long hours at work because that’s all he had and he was just lonely. I started sizing everyone up with that idea that David used, and realized that they can’t and won’t hurt me.
So I say this today not to brag or say how wise I am or anything like that. I say this so that you can get the word out and teach those in your about what I have learned so you can create confident people.
